I’m a writer. So it’s only logical that I support the notion that words count, that they mean something. And when political candidates make statements about staying in Iraq for one hundred years or withdrawing troops in sixty days or feeling proud for the first time as an adult, I think these words should be challenged.
However, I suspect the people who made these remarks were speaking more for effect than for accuracy. The same goes for the candidate who said, “Words are cheap.”
Words don’t exist in a vacuum; as a rule, they are spoken in some sort of context.
These statements are all part of the campaign rhetoric that is the currency used to buy votes during the various state primaries and caucuses. In a way, they’re akin to the language salespeople frequently use when they’re trying to make a deal. You probably wouldn’t buy a pricey car without doing some homework in spite of the salesperson’s comments. And it’s probably a good idea to research the background of political statements as well. Or at least, be skeptical of them.
That’s not to say political candidates or talk show hosts (Think Don Imus here) should get away with insult. It does mean, however, we should consider the context behind a statement and evaluate its worth from that point of view.
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